TACOMAFIFTH SATURDAY CONTRADANCEMay 30, 2009the Saturday after NW Folklife |
Please join us, at Wells Hall. Singles, couples, first-timers, and experienced dancers; All are Welcome. No partner needed; Alcohol and smoke-free; Workshop for newcomers (see below.) We have a great time, dancers, caller, and musicians too! All sponsored by the Seattle Folklore Society. Laura Mé Smith will return once more to call, continuing her tradition at Fifth Saturday dances that reaches back to the beginnings of this series in 1994. We just can't say enough good things about her sense of connection with the crowd, her ability to make newcomers comfortable, and her choice of dances for the flow of the moment. This month, in honor of folks who first tried contra dancing at NW Folklife, Laura Mé will conduct a special one-hour (7 - 8 pm) newcomers' workshop. Experienced dancers are also invited to bring friends they've been wanting to introduce to contra dancing, and to help out by dancing in the workshop.The band (as yet un-named) will be Sono Hashisaki on fiddle, Phil Katz on melodeons, and Jay Finkelstein on guitar. You may remember Sono from the Quebec-playing contradance band Les Pieds Chaud; Phil from numerous contradance bands going back to 1980, including Salmonberry, Scotsbroome, and Grey Owl; and Jay from Grey Owl and the Olympia First Saturday band The Young Geezers. We've been well received in Yakima, and recently at the Friday dance in Seattle. We play "close to the dance and the dancers", choosing our tunes to match the dance chosen by the caller, and our styling to support the dancers as each dance evolves. It is a pleasure to play for our friends out on the dance floor.Our tune repertoire will bring together the French Canadian music of Quebec, and that of the Canadian west, namely the Métis tunes of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We will leaven these hard-driving tunes, particularly for the "softer" and "sweeter" dances, with some Celtic and Yankee contra repertoire and some lovely French jigs. One hesitates to promise, but if they're stage-ready in time, we may have a few Welsh tunes from Sono's repertoire. (Not surprisingly, given the geography, some of these sound Irish, and some like the Southwest of England.)
Specifics on the Event:
The Fifth Saturday Contradance will be held at Christ Church Wells Hall, 310 North K Street, Tacoma - directions below. It is well-known as one of the sweetest halls in Puget Sound. (Note: It's the same location as the monthly Tacoma Contra Dance that's held on Third Saturdays.)The May 30 dance, will run from 8:00 - 11:00 pm. The cost is $8.00. As always, a 10% discount will be available to Seattle Folklore Society members who request it. There will be a newcomers' workshop at 7:00 pm. (see comments above). Laura Mé gives a great workshop. It is "not rocket science", and by the third dance, anyone looking out over the crowd will likely be unable to tell who just learned that evening! We're proud of the tradition of asking newcomers and visitors to dance, and looking after them on the dance floor. Please avoid wearing scented products (e.g. perfume, aftershave, cologne, scented hand lotion) to the Fifth Saturday Contra Dance. (Dancing, being aerobic, magnifies their scent, and also the effect of the solvents used therein!) Some dancers are hypersensitive or allergic to such products. A word about children's attendance: It is fine for older children and teenagers who are comfortable interacting with adults on their own. However, it is not appropriate for small children unless they are on the sidelines supervised by adults at all times. A caution on parking: The street right across from the hall has been posted as a "residents only" zone, so please don't park there - tickets have been given. There is plenty of parking on adjacent streets, and there are spots behind the church as well.
Directions to Wells Hall
310 North "K" Street, Tacoma
From Seattle, "Eastside" of Lake Washington, or Des Moines
I-5 south to exit 133 (Tacoma City Center). Then take I-705 and Schuster Parkway exit on the right (still called I-705). Then take the Stadium Way (first) exit from Schuster Pkwy. At end of exit ramp, turn right. The street goes up hill then swings left onto North 1st. You pass Stadium Thriftway and a Chevrolet lot, and then merge into Division at a traffic light. Continue on Division, turn right onto North "K". Wells Hall is the second building on the left. Enter the dance through the church courtyard.From Olympia
Because of uncertainties regarding the closure of the exit from Route 16 onto Sprague Avenue, we recommend that you add an extra 5-10 min and come all the way north to the I-705 exit (Tacoma City Center). Then follow the directions onto Schuster Parkway, etc. as given above. (Matt Temmel - the organizer of the monthly Tacoma dance on 3rd Saturdays - may discover a better route from south of Tacoma, and if so we'll post it. Similarly if you have an efficient route not involving that Sprague Ave exit, please let us know.)For more information please contact:
Phil Katz - philkatz@ZZZhalcyon.com - 206-722-8228.
(You know what to do with the Z's)